North, South Korea may partner on volcano research - Straits Times

SEOUL - SOUTH Korea will consider a proposal from Pyongyang for joint research into volcanic activity in the peninsula's highest mountain, potentially a rare cross-border project, Seoul said on Friday. The South's unification ministry, which handles cross-border relations, said discussions were under way among government agencies over whether to accept the proposal issued on Thursday for joint research on Mount Paektu. 'Our government understands that there must be inter-Korean cooperation as far as natural disasters are concerned,' ministry spokesman Chun Hae Sung told reporters. The North's earthquake bureau said the two countries should jointly research the mountain on the border between North Korea and China given last week's devastating quake and tsunami in Japan. Since its last eruption in 1903, the 2,740m mountain has been inactive. But experts say the it may have a...